The Impact Assessment Unit in the State Planning Assessment and Facilitation division is responsible for administering Victoria's statutory environmental impact assessment (EIA) system for major projects, in particular the Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) and Bilateral Agreement with the Commonwealth under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Position Outcomes /Accountabilities

• Provide technical expertise in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and related statutory processes, including for energy projects, to help ensure timely and sound advice and decision-making.
• Effective project management of EIA processes and outputs under the EE Act and the EPBC Act Victorian Bilateral Agreement, and coordination with other statutory processes and associated stakeholder engagement.
• Build good working relationships with project proponent, stakeholders, including internal, agency and community stakeholders, to advise on EIA, as well as support and guide other IAU team members.
• Provide sound, timely and well-evidenced high-quality written and verbal advice to management and executives, including reports on complex issues and solutions for impact assessment, cognisant of the policy, political and legal context.

Key Selection Criteria 

This role is pivotal in assessing environmental, social and planning impacts to ensure that projects are delivered responsibly, efficiently and in alignment with legislative and community expectations. This is an opportunity to influence the delivery of transformative infrastructure projects across Victoria, ensuring they are planned and delivered with integrity, sustainability, and impact.

You will lead and manage impact assessment processes, translating strategic objectives into clear project delivery outcomes. Your ability to establish strong governance, monitor progress, manage risk and support robust decision-making will be key to the success of major initiatives.

Effective communication is central to this role. You will tailor advice and analysis to suit diverse audiences, ensuring key messages are clearly articulated and actionable. Your insights will support informed decisions at senior levels, helping to shape the future of infrastructure development.

You will bring strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, addressing complex issues through detailed evaluation and collaborative consultation. Your approach will be proactive, integrating solutions into work processes and driving continuous improvement.

Success in this role also depends on your ability to manage stakeholders effectively. You will work across agencies, partners, and community groups - often balancing competing interests - to develop innovative, practical solutions that enable progress while safeguarding long-term environmental and community outcomes.

Mandatory

A relevant tertiary qualification and demonstrated depth of technical expertise and experience in environment impact assessment (EIA) and related environmental approval processes.

Proven skills and experience in effectively project managing and delivering complex EIA and approvals processes for complex or significant projects under relevant legislation, proactively developing solutions to a wide range of project risks.

• Senior IA position.pdf